Remmy Ongala
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Biography
Ramazani "Remmy" Mtoro Ongala, known as Remmy Ongala, was born on February 10, 1947, in Kindu, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). He began his musical journey at age sixteen, learning from his father and performing with various bands. In 1978, Ongala moved to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he joined Orchestra Makassy and later formed Orchestre Super Matimila. With this band, he played a pivotal role in introducing the soukous style to Tanzanian music, influencing the development of Ubongo, a conscious music genre that addresses social issues. His album Songs for the Poor Man (1989) is notable for its impactful lyrics on poverty and social justice. Ongala's song "Kipenda Roho" was featured in Oliver Stoneâs film Natural Born Killers. He passed away on December 13, 2010, in Dar es Salaam. Posthumously, he received the Hall of Fame trophy at the 2012 Tanzania Music Awards.
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